LIGHTS MARCH: Give each child a battery-operated candle to march around a designated area. As the children march, have the first child say, JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT, then the next child will shout out, JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT, and then the third child and continue through all the children.

CHRISTMAS HUNT: Hide cards with a single letter on each, of the word C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S and send the children out to find all the letters and bring them back and put in the right order on the floor by the wall. Tell children to think of ideas to be THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD from each letter of the word CHRISTMAS (ie: C = caroling, H = hugs for the poor, R= running to help a neighbor, I = interest in others; S = sacrificing my toys for someone else; T - time for others; M = making Christmas cards about Jesus' birth; A = asking someone to Sunday School and church; S = saving money to help others, etc).

J-E-S-U-S LETTERS: Let children draw and cut out large letters to spell J-E-S-U-S. Give the children markers to color and glitter to decorate the 5 letters. Hang the letters on a string of Christmas lights to hang on the classroom wall. Ask the children WHO is the LIGHT of the world? Yes, JESUS!!!

LIGHT CHRISTMAS CARDS: Provide the children with the materials to make a Christmas card with a candle on the front. Let children decorate the candle with a bright YELLOW flame and glitter. On the inside of the card, write JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Celebrate JESUS this Christmas.

CHRISTMAS TREE JESUS LIGHTS: Let the children draw and decorate a triangle Christmas tree with various star stickers and strings of lights. Encourage children to write J-E-S-U-S on their Christmas tree art, as tree "ornaments" hanging from their tree!

CANDLE LIGHT CRAFT: Give each child a toilet paper roll and a piece of construction paper cut to cover the toilet paper roll. Write JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD on the piece of construction paper and tape or glue it around the roll. The children then cut out 2 large FLAMEs out of yellow construction paper, to tape to the top of the candle or stick some pieces of red and yellow tissue inside the roll to represent flames.

CANDLE IN BEANS: Give each child an empty baby food jar (or some other similar container). Let the children pick out various beans that the teacher has available, such as dried split peas, navy beans, lentils, etc and place the beans in their little jars. Use a craft stick to stir some white glue into the jars of beans and place a red candle in the middle of the jar of beans. Let children hold the candle for a few minutes while the lesson is being shared, so that the glue and candle can "set up". Give children a small piece of construction paper and let them write JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT on the paper and then tape it around the outside edge of the baby food jar .

LISTENING TO THE LESSON: Give the children a piece of paper and some crayons or markers. Tell them to listen closely and every time they hear the teacher or another classmate says the word LIGHT, they are to quickly draw a candle on their paper. Teacher, make sure you say the word LIGHT many times so children will continue to listen and will have fun seeing how many candles they make during the story time! The pictures of candles can be very simple with just a stick and a little flame on top. Let children count how many candles they drew while listening and then encourage children to write JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT, or TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, etc.

CANDLE VERSE: The teacher will draw and cut out a large candle from poster board. Let children color the very BIG candle with a yellow flame as well and then take turns writing a word (for each child) of the poem in our Bible lesson today (Lord, let your light, light of your face shine on us. That we may be saved, that we may have life, to find our way in the darkest night, let your light shine on us!). Let children write their own word in any color of their choice and continue to write out the poem until all the words have been written. For younger children, the teacher could have the words already written out before the class time and the younger children could just trace the letters, if desired!

CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES: Give each child a Christmas tree shaped cookie to frost and put sprinkles on the cookie to enjoy as their snack. Remind the children that the lights on the Christmas tree are just "reminders of the ONE TRUE LIGHT that came to bring light into the world.

SING A SONG: This Little Light of Mine, The Light of the World is Jesus, Away in a Manger, or the chorus O COME LET US ADORE HIM

Carol and her husband have served churches in Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, and Indiana. Carol loves to work with children so you will find her teaching in Junior Church and children's Sunday School. She also has clowning ministry in which she is known as Bubbles tc (the clown).